Henry e



H. E. REEVE.

FUEL REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1920.

Reissued une 22, 1920.

m1 9V5 MAIN mill/IV BURNER a specification.

UNITED STA 115mm? E. REEVE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

FUEL-REGULATOR.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued June 22 1920.

Original No. 1,238,940, dated September 4, 1917, Serial No. 747,648, filed February 11, 1913. Application for reissue filed March 1, 1920. Serial No. 362,555.

Division B.

To all whom it may concern;

- Be it known that I, HENRY E. REEVE, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Regulators, of which the following is My invention relates particularly to thermostatic devices, and particularly such as are applicable to the control of fuel supply for automatic water heaters. I v

The main object of the invention is to provide a device which is sensitive and quick to respond to changes in temperature. Another object is to provide a simple and yet reliable mechanism for converting thermostatic effects so as to operate valves and the like. Another object is to provide a construction which can be readily adjusted so as j to operate at the desired temperatures.

In its preferred form, the thermostatic device acts in accordance with the temperature of the heater to control flow of fluid under pressure to a pressure actuated device, which device in turn operates certain valve mechanism to positivel control the flow of gas to the burner. n practice I utilize the fuel gas as the fluid under pressure for operating the pressure operated device.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of apparatus embodying the improvev ments of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the transmitting lever of the apparatus of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are horizontal sectional views of the thermostatic device taken respectively on the planes of the lines 33, 4-4, and 5-5 of Fig. 1.

llig. 6, is a .vertical projection and par.

tialsec'tion showing a modified form of voirof the heater isindicated at 15.

mechanism embodying some of the features of. my; invention.

A portion of the water chamber or reser- 16 designates the gas supply pipe or conduit which-supplies gasto the apparatus, and 17 is the conduit which conveysgasfrom the controlling apparatus to the main burner- The flow of gas to the be controlled directly by a main regulating valve 18 and a pressure operated device is preferably utilized as the means forposierly regulate the rising and falling movement of the diaphragm with the closing and opening movement of the regulating valve, these parts, or the mechanical connections between are preferably made relatively adjustable. Such adjustment is in this case provided for by connecting the end of the lever adjustable to the diaphragm post, as by engaging it between the adjustable abutments 23, carried by the post (see Fig. 1).

While the pressure actuated device may be operated by any suitable fluid under pressure, I prefer to use the gas itself as the medium for operating the device. An auxiliary gas passage 26 is therefore preferably provided leading to the underside of the diaphragm 19, and'flow of the actuating flpid is governed by an auxiliary gas valve the end of such passage. The auxiliary valve 27 which governs the admission of the actuating fluid'to the pressure operated device is preferably mounted on the end of an arm or lever 32, which is connected to a part of a thermostatic device by means of a tape or ribbon 33. The operating arm 32 is pivoted so as to be capable of the oscillatory movement necessary in the opening and eliminate lost motion I prefer to use a special form of pivot mounting at this-point.

21 arranged to cooperate with the seat 28 at main burner may This mounting consists of a roller 34 carrying the valve operating arm and making rolling engagement with a relatively'fixed support 35, and a pair of flexible metallic tapes or ribbons, which pass in opposite di-v rections each part way around the-roller.v

The ends of these ribbons are fastened v The roller is in some way held in proper 1, a single spring 45 performs both these 4:8 to pass on opposite sides of the support,

'side slipping of the roller with respect to "support'has' rounded ends guided in sockets spectively of the support. The support may be held against rotative movement in any suitable way, such for instance, as by providing it with an outstanding arm 56 slidin ly engaged over a fixed guide stud 57.

he operation of the parts thus far deeither directly or indirectly to the roller, so that the roller may be rotated thereby. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the ribbon 33 which comes from the thermostat extends downwardly part way around the roller and is secured to the roller, and another ribbon 37 having one end secured to the support 35 passes upwardly at the opposite side of the roller .1 and part way therearound' to where it is secured to the roller. The roller and lever are made fixed in respect to each other so it will be clear that the anchoring of the ribbons to the lever is the equivalent of "fastening them direct to the roller. When made as in Fig. 6, I have. provided guides 42 for holding the ribbons in proper engagement withthe surface of the roller.

to Fig. 1. Normally with the burner in ply pipe '16 through valve chamber 60, past the main regulating valve 18 and through conduit 17 to the burner. The thermostat, being subjected to the heat of the water in the reservoir, expands, thereby the predetermined temperature for. which the thermostat has been set, the auxiliary valve 27 is carried away from its seat. Gas under pressure now flows through the pipe 79 and chamber 58 and auxiliary gas passage 26 to the underside of-the diaphragm. The diaphragm is lifted by this pressure of gas and thereupon acts to rock the lever ,22 to close the main regulating valve 18.

engagement with its support 35 and provision is made for. rotating it in a direction reverse to that in which it is turned by the thermostat. In Fig. 6, a spring 43 is shown for holding the roller in proper engagement with its supportand a second spring 44 is illustrated which acts upon the lever in opposition to the turning movement of the thermostatf In the form disclosed in Fig. cut oflf. As the hot water is consumed or thereby releasin its upward pull on the ribbon 33 andt he spring 44 or45 acting in opposition to this pull then operates to closethe auxiliary valve 27. This condition of the parts isrepresented in Fig. ,6.

functions, it being, as shown, connected withthe lever so as both to lift the lever in opposition to the pull of the thermostat and to draw the lever over with the roller in engagement with the support. To prevent the diaphragm isthus cut off and the slight the support the roller may have flanges as leakage of gas causes a slight reduction. in

indicated at 46 in Figs. land 2 to engage over the sides of the support, or the place of these flanges may be taken, as shown in Fig. 6 by making up the lever with two side bars 17 to fit the opposite sides of the support. The lever shown in Figs. 1 and 2 also is preferably made up of two side bars leakage may be provided for in any suitable manner. This reduction in pressure and the weight of the diaphragm itself tend to cause the diaphragm to descend. I preferabl utilize this slight preliminary descen ing movement to operate certain mechanism for accelerating the movement of the parts. This accelerating mechanism is here shown in the form of a relief valve but in this case the side bars do not contact with the support. Preferably also the valve lever has a more or less flexible end portion 49 which acts to hold the valve closed under a certain amount of spring tension.

To secure the proper coiiperative action between the thermostat and the auxiliary valve, a certain amount of adjustment in" the relation "of these two arts may be nec essary. This I provide or preferably by mounting the support-so that it may be shifted to carry'the valve on the valve lever 32 toward or away" from'its seat. *Thus' the support is niade' with rounded ends "'50 guided'jin socket sfil, the actual shifting be-' ing accomplished by an adj 'usting screw 55 or nut' 52 on the outer threaded endof the support In the form shown in Fig. 1,'the' therein.v This valve 112 may have its stem 113- guided in a yoke 114. At'the'time of the the diaphragm, the valve is temporarily relief'port 62. The means forthusjteni 'series "of spring fingers 109, which enga gagementfibetwen these parts is sufficient -:phragin 'is'f'slowly settling, and' the rel f as before, bufitheshiitingmeans in thisinstance 'cons'ists-"of thescrews' 54 and 55"en--" gaging with the upper and lower ends repulling upwardly on the ribbon 33 and rotating theroller and its attached lever, until finally at the pressure beneath the diaphragm. This valve befng'thiis' hem open, 'theg'as b ne,,.. h.

es cape. This escape of the gas permits the scribed will be best understood by reference.v V

operation, the'flow of gas is from the sup Further feed of gas to the burner is thus becomes cooled, thethermostat contracts,

Further supply of gas to the underside of i 112 carried on the diaphragm and arranged to normally nearly close a relief opening 62 first preliminary descending movement of supported so that the diaphragm willflfall away from the valve and thus open up'jthe porarily sustaining the "alve is in Fig. a

' main burner.

ably diaphragm to fall quickly and as it falls, it rocks the valve lever 22 downward and again opens the regulating valve for the The small amount of gas released from beneath the diaphragm may be allowed to escape to atmosphere or be otherwise disposed of through a vent 68.

By adjusting the support 35 for the valve carrying lever the amount of expansion in the thermostat necessary to open the auxiliary gas valve and hence the temperature at which the main burner will be cut off, may be determined at will. For convenience in setting the parts for different temperatures there may be provided a scale 69, laid off in degrees of temperatures. To provide against overheating, the thermostat may cut off flow of gas upon excessive heating as shown in Fig. 6. This may be conveniently accomplished by mounting a cut-off valve on the valve lever 32 to cooperate with a valve seat 71 at the point where the gas supply pipe 16 opens into the gas chamber 58. heater should become excessively hot, as for instance, by reason of the pressure operated device failing to properly cut oil flow to the main burner, then, the thermostat in expanding still; further will turn the lever 32 and carry the valve 70 into engagement with its seat, thereby positively cutting ofi' any further flow of gas to the burner. The seat for the auxiliary valve and the seat for the cut-off valve are disposed substantially opposite to each other so that the valve lever may vibrate therebetween to carrv either one or the other valve to its seat. The parts are so proportioned and so disposed that only upon excessive heating will the lever be shifted far enough to close the cut'ofi' valve.

As a further safeguard, means are preferprovided for shutting off flow to the main burner in the event of the extinguishment of the pilot. A means for this purpose is disclosed in Fig. 6, wherein 72 designates the pilot for the main burner, and 73 a branch conduit for supplying it with gas. Associated with this pilot and subject to the heat thereof is a thermostatic device 74 carrying a valve 75, which is arranged to en'- gage a seat 76, and serves to control flow through a conduit 77 leading to the pressure operated device. The thermostatic device, which may be of the usual compound construction, is heated by the pilot so long as it is burning and in its expanded con dition it Serves to hold the valve 75 closed.

-Whenhowever the pilot is extinguished this thermostatic device cools oil and lifts valve 7 5 from its seat. A flow of gas is now opened up from branch conduit 73 through 75 and conduit 77 5 the pilot casing 78, past the now open valve to the pressure actuated device ,which operates in the manner previ- If the the heat of ously described to shut off flow to the main burner.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the gas simply flows from the supply conduit 16 direct through the valve chamber 60 to the conduit 17 lead ing to the burner and the gas for operating the diaphragm is taken off from the supply conduit through a branch conduit 79 which extends to the gas chamber 58 within which is located the auxiliary valve which controls flow to the diaphragm.

The thermostat illustrated in detail in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5 is extremely sensitive to change in temperature. It is made substantially as fol-lows:

A tube 80 for instance of brass, open at the bottom is secured at the bottom to a wall of the water reservoir 15. The upper end of this tube is closed by a plug 81 to which is secured the upger end of a rod 82 for instance of steel. he lower end of this rod carries a sleeve 83. A tubular or semi-tubular member 84 for instance of zinc, is secured at its lower end to the sleeve 83, and at its upper end carries a second sleeve 85. This sleeve is not attached to the tube 80 and has a free passage for the rod 82. The rod 86 for instance of steel, is secured to the sleeve 85 and passes freely through the sleeve 83 at the bottom. The zinc tube 84 has a high co-efficient of expansion and being in contact with the inner wall of the brass tube 80 receives by conduction through the tube,

the water in the'water container'lfi.

As the temperature of the water rises, the tube 80 is elongated and carries with it the rod 82 and sleeve 83 and zinc tube 84: and the latter in turn is itself elongated giving an additional pulling movement to the sleeve 85 and the rod 86. The rod 82 and rod 86 are preferably of relatively nonexpansible material and it will also be noted that they are so spaced apart throughout the principal part of their ranges from the tubes that they are but little afi'ected by changes of temperature and therefore but little, if any, de-

tract from the effective movement of the brass and zinc tubes. The rod 86 may be connected by means of a suitable coupling 87 to the tape 33 which operates the roller.

To prevent leakage atthe joint where the "valve operating .lever 22 passes into the valve chamber 60 of the main regulating valve, I have.v devised a special formof gas tight joint, consisting in substance 0 flexible diaphragm connected betweelr the lever and thewall through which the lever passes. This diaphragm is preferably made up of two thin metallic disks 100 and 101 interconnected at theiredges and connected at their central portionsto'the' lever 22 and the supporting wall respectively. The disk 100 is joined to the lever preferably'by securing it to a bushing 1Q2 fast on the lever and the disk 101 is preferably connected to a bushing 103 mounted in the supporting wall. The opening 10& through which the lever passes is, it will be noted, of a size sufiicient to permit free movement of the lever. The lever is in this way pivotally supported in a manner which is substantially frictionless. To prevent sidewise movement of the lever and to limit its pivoting movement to a single planethat is to a straight up and down rocking movement, I preferably provide guiding means in the form of a horizontally disposed yoke 105 engaged at its center withthe lever and having pivots 106 at its opposite ends. This yoke may, as shown, be connected to or form a part of the bushing 102. The pivots of the yoke are preferably disposed in the same plane with the diaphra in so as to substantially coincide with the dine of flexure of the diaphragm, the yoke bein for this purpose offset to bring the pivots into this plane. Since the normal pressure of gas is only slightly above atmospheric pressure, the wei ht of the valve 112 and attached parts is su cient to keep it closed normally.

Suitable means may be provided for man ually cutting off the flow of gas to the apparatus. Such means is here illustrated in the form of the hand valve 115. The fuel regulator itself is claimed in my concurrent Reissue Application #362,554.

I claim: a

1. In a regulating device, the combination of a water reservoir, .a heat operated device for said reservoir, a roller, a support for said roller, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting said roller to said support, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting the roller to a part of the heat operated device aforesaid, an operating lever connected to the roller and means actuated by said lever.

2. In a regulating device, the combination of a water reservoir, a heat operated device for said reservoir, a roller, a support for said roller, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting the-roller to said sup ort, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting t e roller to a part of the heat controlled device aforesaid, an operating lever connected to the roller, means operated by said lever and means for adjusting the support for the roller;

3. In a regulating device, the combination of a water reservoir, a heat operated device for said reservoir, a roller, a support for said roller, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting the roller ,to saidsupport, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting the roller to a .1,

-means operated by said lever, means for. :preventing rotationof said; support and said- =1ever, a roller carried by said lever, a. flexible tape connecting said support and saidrol'ler, thermostatic element, anda flexible tape part of the heat controlled. device aforesaid, an operating leverconnected to the roller, means operated by said lever and a spring opposing the operationof the heat operated vdevice. g a 4 4. In a regulating device, the combination of a water reservoir, a heat operated device for said reservoir, a roller, a support for said roller, a flexible metallic ribbon con for said reservoir, a roller, a support for said roller, a flexible metallic ribbon connecting the roller'to said support, a flexible-metallic ribbon connecting the roller to a part of the heat controlled device aforesaid, an operating lever connected to the roller, a valve connected to the ope-ratinglever and a lspring normally tending to close said va ve.

6. In a device of the character set forth,

the combination of a support, a roller bearing against said support, an operating arm. carried by the roller, means operated by said arm, a flexible ribbon passing part way around the roller and connecting the roller to the support, a second flexible ribbon passing part way around the roller in a direction opposite to that of the-first ribbon and a controlling device connected to the second ribbon for imparting rotative movement to the roller and the operating arm carried thereby.

7. In a heat controlled device, the combination of a water reservoir, a metallic tube supported at its lower end by said reservoir, a rod of relatively low co-eflicient of expansion' having one end secured to the inner end of said tube, an intermediate member of high co-efflcient of expansion having one end secured to the free end of said rod and lying in contact with the inner surface with said roller.

9. In a device of the characterv described,

a support,.a lever embracing said support,

connecting said thermostatic element with .tape connecting said thermostatic element 14,se5 Y 5 said roller, and means for adjusting said tapes connecting said lever with said thermostatic element and with said support, and spring means opposing the action of said 10 thermostatic element and holding said roller against said support.

HENRY E. REEVE, 

